SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2011 Chevrolet Volt offered the best fuel economy in terms of both mpg and cost of fuel among the new cars tested in Edmunds.com’s Fuel-Sipper Smackdown 4. The test, conducted by Edmunds.com’s team of automotive editors, pitted fuel-efficient vehicles of all sizes and technologies against each other in three real-world driving environments – country highway, interstate highway and city route.
The Volt registered a total of 41 mpg – in addition 99.5 miles of electric range - outdistancing the next-closest vehicle (2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI), which registered 37.2 mpg. The Volt’s fuel cost of $88.55 (gas and electric combined) was also less expensive than all the other vehicles, even though only $2.33 separated first from fifth place.
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Edmunds.com Fuel-Sipper Smackdown 4 |
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RESULTS |
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| Ranking by MPG | Ranking by Money Spent | ||
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1) 2011 Chevy Volt with 41 mpg + 99.5 miles of electric range |
1) 2011 Chevy Volt ($83.70 of 91 octane + $4.85 electricity = $88.55) |
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2) 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (37.2 mpg) |
2) 2012 Fiat 500 ($88.77 of 91 octane) |
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3) 2012 Fiat 500 (36.9 mpg) |
3) 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid ($89.15 of 87 octane) |
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4) 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid (33.6 mpg) |
4) 2011 Hyundai Elantra ($90.03 of 87 octane) |
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5) 2011 Hyundai Elantra (33.2 mpg) |
5) 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI ($90.88 of diesel) |
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Source: Edmunds.com |
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“As long as the driver can recharge the battery, the Volt’s performance both on our interstate highway route and our city route placed it above and beyond the four other fuel-sippers,” said James Riswick, Automotive Editor at Edmunds.com. “But figuring out the Volt’s thriftiness requires a mathematician and a whole lot of perspective.”
Edmunds.com’s editors said that the biggest surprise of the pack was the 2012 Fiat 500. The Fiat was the only vehicle Edmunds tested that either met or exceeded its EPA mpg estimates on every leg of the test. With its tiny engine and manual transmission, the cost to run the small car was just 22 cents more expensive than the Volt.
For full results of Edmunds.com’s Fuel-Sipper Smackdown 4, please visit http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/fuel-sipper-smackdown-4-which-car-gets-the-best-fuel-economy.html.
Edmunds.com warns that while hybrid and electric cars might save their owners money at the gas pump, it might not be enough to off set the car’s transaction price. More details can be found at http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/why-hybrids-and-diesels-dont-always-save-you-money.html.
About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)
Edmunds.com Inc. publishes Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.